Mike Tyson is "on the verge of dying"

Meagan Morris is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist living in New York City. In addition to SheKnows, Morris contributes to many publications including The New York Times, Yahoo! News, PopEater, NBC New York and Spinner. Follow he...

Mike Tyson comes clean on drug use

Mike Tyson seemed to be on the up-and-up over the past couple of years, but now he admits that he's still battling drugs and alcohol.

Mike Tyson has experienced a bit of a career resurgence over the past few years, thanks to his cameo in The Hangover and his A&E reality show, Taking on Tyson. However, the former champion boxer reveals that he's still struggling with the same issues that led to his personal and financial downfall.

On Friday, the fighter revealed that he's still battling crippling alcohol and drug addiction, despite his previous claims to the contrary.

"I hate myself. I'm trying to kill myself," Tyson told reporters during a press conference at the Turning Stone Resort in New York. "I wanna live my sober life. I don't wanna die. I'm on the verge of dying because I'm a vicious alcoholic."

Tyson also explained the thought process behind apologizing to his former trainer, Teddy Atlas, for years of abuse.

"I was wrong," he said.

Part of his newfound honesty comes courtesy of a 12-step program he's following, thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous. Iron Mike also described himself as a "dark" person, something he's alluded to in the past.

"My whole life has been a waste — I've been a failure. I just want to escape. I'm really embarrassed with myself and my life," he told USA Today in 2005. "I want to get this part of my life over as soon as possible. In this country nothing good is going to come of me. People put me so high; I wanted to tear that image down."

"I haven't drank or took drugs in six days, and for me that's a miracle," he said, choking back tears. "I've been lying to everybody else that thinks I was sober, but I'm not. This is my sixth day. I'm never gonna use again."

The hardest part is admitting you have a problem, Mike. It sounds like you're on the right path.